The European Commission seeks stakeholder input in preparation of a new Recommendation.
Background: The EC’s Recommendation on relevant markets is a key guideline for national regulatory authorities in deciding which markets to regulate. NRAs wishing to depart from the Recommendation need to justify their choices. Over time, the Commission has reduced the number of regulated markets, from a mix of 18 retail and wholesale markets in 2003, to just four wholesale markets in 2014.
The new consultation: Last week, the Commission published a questionnaire for stakeholders to respond to. This is the first step to comply with the new Electronic Communications Code, which requires the EC to review the Recommendation regularly, and to carry out the first review within two years of the approval of the Code. At this stage, the questions do not indicate any orientation the Commission may take; however, the EC will consider major market and technological developments (such as the deployments of 5G networks, internet-based applications and services, convergence between different types of networks and services and development of fibre).
Next steps: The consultation is open until 10 May 2019. The EC aims to complete the review by December 2020, in line with the provisions of the Code.
